Electrically-operated indicating device



Oct. 4, 1927. 1,644,102

E. S. C. BETTELEY EIJECTRICALLY OPERATED INDICATING DEVICE Filed Jan.21. 1927 Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE. I

EDWARD SAMUEL CHAR-LES BETTELEY, OF SURBITON, ENGLAN'D.

ELECTRICALLY-OPERATED INDICATING DEVICE. I

Application filed January 21,1927, Serial No. 162,643, and in GreatBritain January 25, 1926.

mentor elements pivoted intermediate the ends thereof'and adapted torotate an independently mounted disc or more than one disc or likemember about the axis or axes thereof in e1therd1rect1on through the1ntervention of means on the sa1d disc or dlscs,

the arrangement being such that the angu-' lar movement of the disc ordiscs is greater than the angular movement of the pivoted element orelements. 'Other features are hereinafter set forth,

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into elfectthe same will now be-described more fully, by way ofexample, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, inwhich 1 r Figures 1 and 2 are elevations taken at right angles to oneanother of an indicating device embodying the invention, Figure 3 is asection taken approximately on the line w-m, Figure 2, the operativeelectrical connections being also shown, and I Figure 4c is a similarView to Figure 3 but showing the indicating disc and relative operativeparts, in a different position.

Referring to the drawings, the indicating device, in the example shown,comprises a discs a adapted to move freely about the axis thereofpassing through the centre of gravity of the disc, and provided with anunbalanced weight or element 1; which, as 40 shown, projects laterallyfrom the disc, the

said disc being mounted by means of aspindlec associated therewithrelatively to appropriatebearings afforded for instance in front andrear plates (l, 6, respectively. The disc at is adapted to be movedangularly about its axis by means ofa balanced member f pivotedcentrally between the ends thereof, each end of the said member havingassociated therewith an armature g which may be in the form of a softiron core. An

eleotro-magnet h or the like is locatedat a predetermined point beloweach armature and the axis of the disc is located so that the laterallyprojecting element 6 on the disc may be caused to rest under the actionof gravity on either of the said armatures, leavmg one ofthe armaturesat the maximum distance from its corresponding 'electro-magnet when theother armature is in engagement with its corresponding electro-magnet,as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4. Upon an electric'current being passedunder the control of a corresponding switchthrough the electro-magnet orthe like having its correspondmg armature spaced therefrom the maximumdistance, the said armature will be attracted, causing the otherarmature, upon which the said element 6 will then rest, to

move suddenly upward and thereby give an impulse to 'the disc which isconsequently caused to revolve, and having absorbed the energy impartedto it by the armature,in a manner similar to a flywheel, continues torevolve, such as for example, from the position indicated in Figures 1and 3 to the position indicated in Figure 4, until the said element 6has passed the maximum amplitude thereof when it is assisted by theaction of gravity until coming to rest on'the armature of theelect-ro-magnet or the like through Wl'llCh the current is passing. Thesaid element may be constructed of soft iron or like substance so thatit may be attracted by the said armature and damp out any tendency ofthe disc to rebound when suddenly brought to rest. When current ispassed under the control of a corresponding switch through the otherelectro-magnet or the like, the disc will be caused to revolve in anopposite direction, such as for example, from the position indicated inFigure 4 to the position indicated in Figures 1 and 3, in a mannersimilar to that aforesaid. If desired, the disc a may be locked ineither position by means of a pivoted arm 5 adapted to be operated,against the action of a spring 7', such as that shown, or theequivalent, by means of an electro-magnet k or the like in series withthe electro-magnets h or the like, the I arm a, in the exampleshown,being adapted at one end thereof to engage with either of twonotches Z on the periphery of the disc and disposed at an angle of 90with respect to each other, the other end of the said arm having anarmature m adapted to be attracted by the electroiiiagnet 70 to permitthe disc to be rotated in the manner aforesaid.

It will benoted that the indicating symbol on the disc is in the form ofan arrow which can be exposed when required through openings such as thesegmental openings 71 in the front plate (Z, but it will be understoodthat any other symbol or indicating means may be associated with thedisc.

By providing a device such as above described, the following advantagescan be obtained:

1. The disc being free to revolve with re spect to the axis thereof, theangular movement imparted to the disc by the armature can be madeconsiderably larger than the angular movement of the armature itself.

2. The disc acting in a manner similar to a flywheel, absorbs the suddenimpulse of the armature and so carries the unbalanced weight of theaforesaid element over the maximum amplitude thereof.

3. The angular movement of the disc can be varied by the distance andposition between the axis of the disc and the axis of the pivoted memberor lever with which the armaturesareassociated. j

4. The disc being free to revolve with respect to the axis thereof, theunbalanced weight of the said element will come to rest on one of thearmatures, leaving the other armature at the maximum distance from thecorresponding electro-magnet or the like, even though the indicatorproper is moved in a vertical plane through a considerable angle ineither direction.

5. The unbalanced weight in the form of the said element beingconstructed of soft iron or like substance, will be attracted by thearmature of the electro-magnet or the like through which a current isflowing, and

so damp out any tendency of the disc to rebound when suddenly brought torest by striking the armature.

If desired, more than one indicating disc or the like and relative partsmay be provided, in which event two or more discs and 7 controlledelement mounted for pivotal movenient, electrically controlled means foroperthe element. and means carried by the member to be engaged by theelement in its electrical operation to thereby impart to the member anangular movement in excess of the angular movement of the element.

2. An electrically operated indicating device comprising an indicatormounted for free pivotal movement, an operating element mounted forpivotal movement, electrical means for actuating the element, and

means carried by the indicator to be directly engaged by that portion ofthe element on one side of the pivot to impart a free move ment to theindicator, the portion of the element on the opposite side of the pivotserving as a limit to such free movement.

3. An electrically operated indicating device comprising an indicatormounted for free pivotal movement, a balanced lever mounted adjacent theindicator, electromagnetic means formoving the lever on itspivot, and aprojection on the indicator to be engaged by the lever when operated formoving the indicator through an angular length exceeding the angularlength of movement of the lever.

4. An'electrically operated indicating de vice comprising an indicatormounted for free pivotal movement, a balanced lever mounted adjacent theindicator, electromagnetic means for moving the lever on its pivot, aprojection on the indicator to be engaged by the lever when operated formoving the indicator through an angular length exceeding the angularlength of movement of the lever, means for normally holding theindicator in a predetermined position. and means for automaticallyreleasing the holding means simultaneously with the movement of thelever.

5. An electrically operated indicating device comprising an indicatormounted for free pivotal movement, an operating lever mounted adjacenttheindicator, independent electromagnets capable of selectiveenergization and cooperating with the respective portionsof the lever onopposite sides of the pivot to move the lever, and a projection on theindicator engaged by the lever in movement to impart free rotativemovement to the, indicator.

6. An electrically operated indicating device comprising an indicatormounted for free pivotal. movement, an operating lever mounted adjacentthe indicator. independent electromagnets capable of selectiveenergization and cooperating with the respective portions of the leveron opposite sides of the pivot to move the lever. and a projection onthe indicator engaged by the lever in movement to impart free rotativemovement to' the indicator, said projection serving to unbalance theindicator.

7. An electrically operated indicating device eomprising an indicatormounted for.

ent eleotromagnets capable of selective energization and cooperatingwith the respective portions of the lever on opposite sides of the pivotto move the lever, and a projection on the indicator engaged by thelever in move- .ment to impart free rotative movement to the indicator,said projection being electrically attracted by the energizedelectromagnets to prevent rebound movement of the '10 EDWARD SAMUELCHARLES BETTELEY.

